Beschreibung:

Jean Alexandre Joseph Falguière (French, 1831- 1900), a patinated bronze model of a youth, Le Vainqueur au Combat de Coq, portrayed nude and in celebratory pose, holding the cockerel in his right hand, his weight on his right leg, on a waisted circular base, above a waisted rouge marble socle, 45cm high overall; and a French patinated bronze model of a youth with a spade, portrayed nude and cast as a pair to the work above, in similar pose, with conforming base, also 45cm high Trained in the studio of sculptor François Jouffroy at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, Alexandre Falguière won the Prix de Rome in 1859, allowing him to continue his studies at the Villa Medici, -the Academy of France in Rome. Each year, students were required to send a work to Paris for exhibition, and at his third attempt Falguière won with his Winner at the Cock Fight The work was then cast in bronze by the Thiebaut Freres foundry, becoming an instant success at the 1864 Salon. It was part of the nascent revival of interest in neo-Florentine sculpture, the references to the Renaissance including the use of juvenile male figures in homage to Donatello, mingling with classical inspired subject matter. The work was presented again at the Universal Exhibitions of 1867 and 1889 It remains unclear as to whether or not the complimentary bronze offered in this lot, clearly cast as a pair to Le Vainqueur au Combat de Coq from the outset is, also the work of Falguière Condition report disclaimer